Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 7l6,556. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

S. M. KLARHUIST. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 5, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

lNvENToR SWAN M.

H ls ATTOR [5Y5 m5 Nonms PETERS co, wuoTg-uma. wnsnmmon, a, c.

Patented Dec. 23, I902.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

s. m. KLARHUIST.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 5, 1900.)

No. 7l6',556.

(No Model.)

time STATES ATENT OFFICE.

SYVAN M. KLARQUIST, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 716,556, dated December23, 1902.

Application filed February 5. 1900. Serial No. 3,978. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SWAN M. KLARQUIsTpf the city of Minneapolis,Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is aspecifica tion.

This invention relates to acetylene-gas generators; and the objects ofthe invention are to provide a safe and convenient gas-generator that isautomatically controlled by the gasometer and to provide means forthoroughly washing and purifying the gas before it enters the gasometer.

A further object is to provide a gas-generator having acarbid-receptacle wherein the calcium carbid or other gas-producingmaterial is exposed in small quantities only to the action of the waterand saturated as fast as it is needed, the main body of the carbid beingkept perfectly dry.

A further object is to provide means for locking the water-supply valveuntil released by the movement of the gasometer.

The invention consists generally in various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a vertical section of a gasgenerator and gasometer embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line arm of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. at is adetail showing the interior of the carbid-reoeptacle. Fig. 5 is a detailof one of the carbidcans. Figs. 6, '7, and 8 are details of themechanism for operating the valve in the pipe leading from thegenerator.

In the drawings, 2 represents a tank adapted to contain a supply ofwater and provided with a horizontal wall or floor 3, forming a secondbottom for the tank. Between the wall 3 and the bottom proper of thetank a space or chamber is provided that is divided by verticalpartitions 4E and 5 into chambers or compartments 6 and 7, the latterreceiving the gas from the generator and being called, therefore,thewashing-chamber. The partition at extends from the bottom of the tank tothe wall 3 and is provided with a series of openings 8, and thepartition 5 is spaced from the partition 4; and preferably extends onlyto the surface of the water when the chambers are filled. Afilling-spout 9 is provided on the side of the tank, through which thechamber 6 may be filled with water, which,

flowing through the holes 8, remains at the same level on both sides ofthe partitions. A hole 10 is preferably provided in the wall of the tanknear the top, over which I arrange a lip 11 for convenience in fillingthe tank. The tank is provided with an open top, and within the same Iarrange a gas-holder or bell 12, having a closed top and open bottom andprovided with a central tube 13, in which a guide-rod 14, provided onthe bottom 3, is slidable. WVithin the gas-holder I provide a gas-inletpipe 15, leading from the chamber 7 to a point above the surface of thewater in said holder and through which the gas passes from thewashing-chamber to the gas-holder. Upon the opposite side of said tank Iprovide a gas-outlet pipe 16, leading from the space above the water inthe holder through the chamber 6 and preferably provided in said chamberwith a T 17, that is connected to the service-pipe 18 and is providedwith a pipe 17, extending below the surface of the water in the chamber6, forming a water seal for the gas-outlet pipe. I also provide asafety-pipe 18, telescoping with a pipe 18 on the holder, said pipe 18"being provided with a hole 18", normally below the water-line, throughwhich the gas passes to the safety-pipe and the outer air should thepressure raise the holder beyou d the desired point. I prefer to providea drip T 19 on the pipe 18 within the chamher 6.

Below the surface of the water within the chamber 7 is a strainer-cup19, connected to a pipe 20, leading to the interior of the generator 21.The generator is provided with a tight-fitting cover 22, held inposition by a clamp device 23. Within the generatorI arrange a removablecarbid pail or bucket 24, divided by vertical partitions 25 and 26 intocompartments, preferably fourin number and of equal size and wherein Iarrange a series of triangular carbid-cans 27, placed one above theother, the lower can of each series being provided with lifting-straps28, provided with rings 28', and all the cans having depending flanges29 at the bottom to fit over and form a close joint With the top of thecan immediately beneath. The carbid pail or bucket 24 is provided with aseries of holes 30, leading from the space between the walls of the pailand the generator to thecompartments formed by the partitions 25 and 26.I prefer to provide one hole or opening for each compartment and arrangethem in a circle one above the other in the walls of the pail near itstop, so that as the water in the generator rises to the level of thefirst hole it will flow in upon the carbid in one compartment and willnot enter the others until it reaches the level of the holes leadingthereto. Each carbid-can is preferably provided with a series of holes31, arranged, preferably, near the upper edge of the can, and also withholes 32 and 33, the former being near the top and the latter near thebottom of the can. The water entering the lowest hole of the series inthe pail will flow down to the bottom of the pail and entering the hole33 in the can will attack first the carbid at the bottom of the can. Ifthe water continues to rise, it will enter the hole 32 and act upon thecarbid at the top of the can and will continue on in this manner throughthe entire series of cans. If, the carbid having been exhausted in thefirst compartment, the water continues to flow -into the generator itwill soon rise to the height of the hole in the pail leading to thesecond compartment, in which the carbid will be acted upon, beginningwith the contents of the bottom can, in the manner already described,and so on through the entire series of compartments. With thisconstruction only a small quantity of the carbid is exposed at any onetime to the action of the water, and there is in consequence no waste ofthe carbid and no excessive accumulations of gas. The main body of thegas-producing material will be kept perfectly dry and exposed to thewater only as it is needed in the generation of the gas.

On the inner wall of the generator and extending below the level of thewater therein I provide a lip or flange 34, and leading from the spacebetween said flange and the wall of the generator is a water-supply pipe38, extending to the tank 36, supported on the wall of the tank 2 abovethe generator. The flange 34, extending below the level of the water inthe generator, forms a Water seal for the supply-pipe. On the oppositeside of the generator I provide a U-shaped overflow-pipe 37. In the pipe38 is a valve 35, to the stem of which is attached a fork 39, havingprongs 40 and 41. The prong 40 is preferably longer than the prong 41and slides in a channel-bar 42, that is vertically slidable in guides 43and is connected at its upper end by a strap 44 with an arm 45 on thegas-holder. The channel-bar 42 is provided with a slot 46, and a bar 47extends across the slot and is proriatse vided with a beveled face toprevent the prong 41 from catching thereon during the descent of saidbar 42. The channel-bar being connected to the gas-holder, the flow ofwater to the generator and the generation of gas therein is absolutelycontrolled by the movement of the holder. As the gas passes out of theholder it will slowly descend, and the fork projecting through the slotin the channel-bar, as shown in Fig. 6, will be carried down to theposition indicated in Fig. 8 and the valve opened, allowing the water toflow into the generator. As the gas flows from the generator into theholder it will slowly ascend, raising the channel-bar 42, and graduallyclose the valve and shut off the supply of water. When the holder is inits elevated position, the fork will be in the position shown in Fig. 7and the prong 40, fitting in the groove in the channel-bar, will preventthe valve from being opened again until the gas passes out of the holderand it begins to descend. When the gasholder is in its down position,the prongs of the fork will be within the slot in the channel-bar, asshown in Fig. 8, and it will not be possible, without breaking the fork,to close the valve and shut off the supply of Water to the generator.The generation of gas is thus automatically and positively controlled bythe rise and fall of the gas-holder, and as the valve will be locked,whether open, closed, or in an intermediate position, all accidents dueto tampering with the water-supply valve or to the carelessness of anattendant will be prevented. As the gas is generated and rises to thetop of the generator it will pass down through the pipe 20 into thewashing-chamber and after being thoroughly cleansed will pass up throughthe pipe 15 into the top of the holder. The pressure of the gas in thewashing-chamber will be balanced by the weight of the water in thechamber 6, so that a uniform water-level will be maintained in eachchamber. When the holder has risen to a certain predetermined point, thehole in the pipe 18" will be above the level of the water, permittingthe gas to enter and escape through the safetypipe. The partition 4being imperforate above the water-line will prevent the gas from passingover the partition 5 from the washing-chamber to the chamber 6, and thepartition 5 being imperforate below the water-line will prevent the gasunder pressure from passing through the perforations beneath thewater-line in the partition 4, and an effectual water seal is thusformed between the chambers.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the generatortank, of thecarbid pail or bucket removably arranged therein, said bucket beingdivided by vertical partitions into a series of compartments, the wallsof said bucket being provided with holes arranged at intervals one abovethe other and leading, respectively, from the space between the walls ofsaid bucket and said tank to said compartments, and a series ofremovable carbid-cans arranged one above the other in each of saidcompartments, said cans being provided with holes in their walls nearthe top and bottom of the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination, withageuerator-tank, of a removable pail or bucketarranged therein, vertical partitions dividing the interior of saidbucket into a series of compartments, the walls of said bucket beingprovided at intervals with holes arranged upon different levels and communieating, respectively, with one of said compartments and theinteriorof said tank, a series of carbid-cans provided within each ofsaid compartments, the cans of each series being arranged one upon theother, and each can being provided with holes in its walls communicatingwith the space between them and the walls of said bucket, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination, with agenerator-tank, of a carbid pail or bucketremovably arranged therein, said bucket being divided by verticalpartitions into a series of compartments and provided with ports orducts upon different levels communicating with said generator-tank andsaid com partmen ts,respectively, and a series of removable carbid-cansarranged one above the other in each of said oompartments,saidcanshaving ports or d ucts upon differentlevels communicatingrespectively with the interior of said cans and said bucket,substantially as described.

4. The combination, with agenerator-tank, of acarbid pail or bucketremovably arranged therein, said bucket being divided by verticalpartitions into a series of compartments, a series of removablecarbid-cans arranged one above the other in each of said compartments,said cans being provided with ports or ducts forming passages leadingfrom said bucket to the interior of said cans, substantially asdescribed.

5. Thecombination, withagenerator-tank, of a carbid pail or bucketremovably arranged therein, said bucket being divided by partitions intoa series of compartments, and a series of removable carbid-cans arrangedone above the other in each of said compartments, said cans beingprovided with ports or ducts arranged upon different levels andcommunicating, respectively, with said compartments and the interior ofsaid cans, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a generator-tank, of a carbid pail or bucketremovably arranged therein, said bucket being divided by partitions intoa series of compartments, a series of carbid-cans rem ovably arrangedone above the other in each of said compartments, said cans beingprovided with ports or passages arranged upon different levels leadingfrom said compartments respectively to the inte' rior of said cans, andsuitable lifting straps or handles provided on the lower can of eachseries, substantially as described.

7. The combination, Withagenerator-tank, of a carbid pail or bucketremovably arranged therein, said bucket being divided by verticalpartitions into a series of compartments and provided with waterpassages or ducts arranged upon different levels leading from theinterior of said tank to said compartments respectively, and a series ofremovable carbid-cans arranged one above the other in said compartments,the top of each can forming a close water-tight joint with the bottom ofthe succeeding can and said cans being provided with suitable waterpassages or ducts communicating with their interior and with saidcompartments, respectively, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a generator-tank, of a carbid pail or bucketremovably arranged therein, said bucket being divided by Verticalpartitions into a series of compartments and provided in its walls withwater-inlet passages or ducts leading to said compartments, a series ofcarbid-cans provided in said compartments and Water-inlet passages orducts provided at different levels in said cans and communicating withtheir interior and with said compartments, respectively,

substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a water-tank and a gas-holder therein, of agenerator provided outside said tank, pipes connecting said generatorwith said tank, a water-supply pipe leading to said generator and a lipor flange provided on the inner wall of said generator over thewater-inlet opening therein, the lower edge of said flange being belowthe level of the water in said generator, whereby a water seal isformed, substantially as described.

10. The combination,withawater-tankand a gas-holder therein, of agenerator provided outside said tank, pipes connecting said generatorwith said tank, a water-supply pipe leading to said generator, a valveprovided therein, a-slotted bar attached to said holder and movablevertically therewith, and a forked arm connected to said valve, theprongs of said fork fitting within the slots in said bar and adapted toslide therein as said bar is operated and one of said prongs beinglonger than the other, for the purpose specified.

11. Thecombination,withagenerator-tank, of a carbid pail or bucketremovably arranged therein,said bucket being provided with ports orducts upon diiferent levels communicating with said tank, and a seriesof removable carbid cans arranged one above the other and provided withports or ducts upon different levels communicating respectively leadingfrom said bucketto the interior of with the interiorof said cans andsaid bucket. said cans. 1o

12. Thec0mbinati0n,withagenerator-tank, In witness whereof I havehereunto set my of acarbid pailor bucket removably arranged hand this31st day of January, 1900. 5 therein, said bucket being divided by par-SWAN M. KLARQUIST. titions into a series of compartments and re- Inpresence 0fmovable carbid-cans in said compartments RICHARD PAUL,

and having ports or ducts forming passages M. O. NOONAN.

